GREENSBORO BAR ASSOCIATION

Memorial Resolution
for
Allen Holt Gwyn

BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED, by the Greensboro Bar Association at its regularly scheduled meeting on January 18, 2018 that:

WHEREAS, Allen Holt Gwyn died on September 18, 2017, in Greensboro, North Carolina; and

WHEREAS, this Association desires to reflect upon and recognize his outstanding legal career and service to the Bar and the community in general, and the minutes should therefore reflect that:

Allen Holt Gwyn was born on September 11, 1949 and grew up in Winston-Salem in a family proud of its long legacy as native North Carolinians for many generations.

Holt was a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the Wake Forest University School of Law. Upon graduating from law school Holt moved to Greensboro and joined the office of the United States Attorney, Middle District of North Carolina as an Assistant U.S. Attorney. After leaving the U.S. Attorney’s office, Holt joined the law firm of Falk, Carruthers & Roth, PA in Greensboro as a civil litigation partner. It was there that he began developing his expertise in construction law.  Some years later, he became a partner in the law firm of Patton Boggs, working in its Greensboro office. In 1999, Holt and his long time law partners Richard Conner and Jim Schenck founded the construction law firm of Conner Gwyn Schenck PLLC, with offices in Raleigh and Greensboro.  Holt was generally considered one of the finest construction lawyers in the state and was often called upon to serve as a mediator and arbitrator in commercial disputes.

Holt dedicated his time and effort to numerous civic and professional organizations.  In 1999, Holt was elected as Chair of the American Bar Association Forum on Construction Law, the nation’s premiere construction law group, with over 6,000 members.  He was the first North Carolina lawyer to Chair that organization.  In 2014, he was selected as Chair of the North Carolina Bar Association’s Construction Law Section.  Holt also was selected as a Fellow in the American College of Construction Lawyers where he served on its board and as its president.

Holt was also an accomplished writer and teacher.  Holt was co-editor of the treatise entitled North Carolina Construction Law, Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of the American College of Construction Lawyers, and co-editor of the College of Commercial Arbitrators Guide to Best Practices in Commercial Arbitrations.

Holt was a member of the American Bar Association, the North Carolina Bar Association and the Greensboro Bar Association.

He gave generously of his time and talents.  Holt’s pro bono efforts were recognized by his membership in the Herb Falk Society.   Holt also served on numerous local boards including the Greensboro Symphony Orchestra, the Eastern Music Festival, Green Hill Center for North Carolina Art and the Cultural Arts Council of Greensboro.  He also served as a member of the Guilford County Volunteers to the Court First Offender Program.

Holt had many abilities and experiences beyond his civic and professional life.  Holt was well travelled and well read.  He was a fine golfer and boat skipper.  He also was a gifted musician and singer frequently performing at local venues and events with his fellow attorney musician, David Niblock of Winston-Salem.

Holt’s life was marked by his keen intellect, integrity, and boundless energy.  Always willing to help others, he was a remarkable mentor for all.  He was a model attorney, citizen and friend.  Those who knew Holt continue to be inspired by his memory to strive for excellence and to better themselves and their communities.

Holt is survived by his wife Beth Boulton of Greensboro, and by a large family.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Greensboro Bar Association, in this duly assembled meeting of its members, does hereby adopt this Resolution to honor and memorialize the life and works of our colleague Allen Holt Gwyn, and directs that this Resolution be made a part of the official records of the Association and that a true copy hereof shall be delivered to Holt’s family in token of the esteem, high regard and enduring affection in which he was held by his friends and colleagues of the Bar.

DONE BY ACCLAMATION at the regularly scheduled meeting of the membership of the Greensboro Bar Association, this the 18^th day of January, 2018.

Sarah H. Roane, President

Brooks Pierce attorney Sarah Saint has been elected to the board of directors for the North Star LGBTQ Community Center.

The North Star LGBTQ Community Center focuses on encouraging a sense of community across diverse identities through advocacy, compassion, education and service. It is committed to providing educational, social and collaborative activities for LGBTQ youth, adults and families in the Triad.

Saint focuses her practice on representing school boards, educational institutions, teachers, administrators and students in a diverse range of education law issues. She also represents businesses in various industries as they seek to resolve disputes, litigating in state and federal court when necessary. She holds a master’s degree in school counseling and has served public school students in a variety of capacities. In 2017, she received the North Carolina State Bar Student Pro Bono Service Award as well as the American Bar Association and Bloomberg BNA Award for Excellence in the Study of Labor and Employment Law. Saint has also worked with the annual Winston-­‐Salem Pride Festival and Parade since 2016.

Carruthers & Roth, P.A. announced that attorney Mark York has been named a director at the firm effective January 1, 2018.

Mark is a member of the Carruthers & Roth commercial litigation team and is experienced in advocating for clients in a wide range of business, shareholder, commercial, construction and employment disputes, as well as other general litigation matters.

Previously Mark served in the U.S. Army for twenty years, fourteen of those years as part of an elite special operations team conducting high-risk missions throughout the world. It was an experience that taught him how to unravel complex problems and to make smart, well-informed decisions under tough conditions.

“Mark brings those same problem-solving skills to his work at Carruthers & Roth,” said Kenneth Keller, managing director of Carruthers & Roth, P.A. “We look forward to his continued leadership on behalf of both our clients and colleagues.”

Mark graduated magna cum lade from the Elon University School of Law, where he was named the inaugural McMichael Law and Leadership Fellow. He was recently named to the 2018 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America, the oldest and most respected peer-review publication in the legal profession.

The Pro Bono Board at Elon University School of Law will host its annual Ask a Lawyer Day at the law school on Saturday, April 21 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m.  GBA members are invited to join Elon Law students to serve members of the Greensboro community who are in need of free legal assistance.  Practice areas needed are family law (including domestic violence), public benefits, housing issues, foreclosure, and employment. To confirm your participation, please send an email to probono@elon.edu by March 30. Please indicate your practice area(s) and whether you would like to volunteer from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., or 12 p.m. to 2 p.m.

Jason Pruett
Black, Slaughter, & Black, P.A.
James H. Slaughter

Cheryl Hairston
Cheryl J. Hairston
Hon. Teresa H. Vincent

Katherine Torrance
Katherine A. Torrance, Attorney at Law
Justin R. Ervin, III

Christopher Hampton
Nexsen Pruet, PLLC
James W. Bryan

Audrey Snyder
Ward Black Law
Manisha P. Patel